In terms of synopsis, I generally use the ones from GoodReads, because I'm not so sure that I could write a compelling synopsis that is true to the book. I try to provide some sort of warning if this book is part of a series, so readers realize that they risk being spoiled. As for structure, which I kind of forget to touch on, I don't follow a specific formula when I'm writing my reviews. The reason I sit down and start reviews so soon after reading is that so my strongest opinions make it into the review. Once I get those down and let the review rest for a while, I feel that the other details I want to touch on and the structure the review will take on begin to come about somewhat naturally. At the end of the day, I always make sure that my reviews are true to how I feel about a book before posting them.
You can check out Adele's vlog , and April's vlog .

After reading Meyer’s saga and meeting fellow bloggers, has become a bit of a sore spot for me. Sometimes I think I’m in a minority for feeling primarily dislike towards it. As I’ve said in my reviews of the Twilight saga I think I might have felt differently about Meyer’s writing if Bella isn’t the narrator. proved my theory to be correct. This book was an enjoyable and swift read, but nothing amazing.

I have to get my biggest pet peeve about this book off of my chest, which is that Meyer didn’t divide this into chapters or even provide spaces between any of the paragraphs. The whole story was just a giant block of text. While this sort of worked for the plot of the story, it drove me crazy because I don’t like to set a book down until I’ve finished the chapter I’m currently reading, so it made taking pauses and interludes awkward.

I thought the actual plot was intriguing, and nicely filled in some of the leftover gaps in . I feel like by portraying vampires who drank the blood of humans and were rather careless, Stephenie did a nice job of portraying the Cullens as compassionate, as opposed to pansy vampires, which is how I sometimes think of them (and if you’re wondering where this is coming from, read Dracula by Bram Stoker). I wanted to know more about what happens to Fred, so I’ll be curious to see if Meyer decides to explore his story further.

Honestly, I don’t have much else to say about this story. It was entertaining, but I don’t think it’ll stay with me. I’m not really sure how it will go over with people who enjoyed Twilight more than I did. This was a great opportunity to see Meyer outside of the confines of Bella’s voice, and it made me eager to see more of her writing outside of Twilight.

Disclosure: I checked out a copy of this book from my awesome local library.

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of .

Contest wins:
Hunger Games pin!
For review:
by Trisha Telep (Editor)
by Diana Peterfreund
by Ivy Devlin
From the library:
by Robin Benway
by Swati Avashti
Bought:
by Suzanne Collins
by Robin Benway
Tour sites mentioned:

Blogs and Bloggers mentioned:
Nayuleska of
James of

Read:
by Suzanne Collins ()
Currently reading:
by Diana Peterfreund
by Bree Despain by Neil Pasricha
I plan to read:
by Ivy Devlin
by Kody Keplinger (This will be arriving via an ARC tour soon.)
by Julie Kagawa
by Chelsea Campbell
by Laurie Halse Anderson
by Heidi R. Kling
by Emily Bronte
by Maggie Stiefvater
by John Green
by C.A. Moulton
by Simone Elkeles

Hello, wonderful blog readers! I hope that you are all having a wonderful Saturday. I am draped over an armchair, gazing out at a sunbathed (albeit a bit too hot) landscape near the Mississippi river. I'd like to take a brief moment to say thanks to everyone who has been reading, following and commenting on my blog. With this being said, I have a few brief announcements.

Many of you are familiar with Kristi of , and if you aren't, you should stop by to check it out. Always filled with creative new ideas, Kristi has started a new feature called . This is a way for people to learn more about individual bloggers and why they run their blogs they way they do. Kristi is featuring a host of new bloggers, as well as some who's blogs are more developed and have been around for longer. I am honored to say that I am one of the new bloggers! The first post went up this past week, and there are several more to come. Even just with one post it's been a great way to learn about different perspectives on blogging, and discover several new blogs. Click to check it out!

Second of all, some of you may have noticed a small, brand new box in my left sidebar, where I talk about my favorite independent bookstores. Only one currently listed there, namely . The owner maintains a blog called , which you can check out here. I've bought a handful of used books there, as well as placed special orders. After a lot of thinking, I've decided that I'd like to start buying the majority of my books (and I do love to own books) from independent bookstores, so as to support local economies and individuals, instead of just giving all of money to large super corporations. I'll be making more of an effort to visit indies near me, and maybe even write entire posts about the particularly fantastic indies I find. I would like to stress that I am in no way being compensated for the content of my sidebar. The individual behind did, however, say he would like to add me to his blog roll as he is not familiar with many YA book blogs. Naturally he'll be added to mine as well, and anyone who is not currently listed on my blog roll should take this opportunity to leave a comment or send an e-mail if he or she would like to be added.

Lastly, I've decided to start a new feature on my blog. Some of you may remember two particular posts I did this summer called and . If you're new or just don't remember them, allow me to summarize: the first was about why I read YA even though I am supposedly an adult, while in the latter I provided not only my own opinions about giving star ratings to books, but those of several other bloggers as well. I felt that the response to each of these posts was really positive, and I had so much fun writing them. I have lots more ideas that fall along these lines, such as a post contemplating whether I treat certain genres differently and why, or what I think are admirable qualities for a female protagonist in a paranormal story. These aren't exact or necessarily what I'll say, but should give you a better idea of what I hope to discuss with this feature. The posts existing thus far have been about topics which I think are relevant to readers, bloggers and lovers of Young Adult fiction, but also enjoyable to contemplate.

With all this being said, I have a problem: I'm not entirely sure what to name it. I've thought of a couple of things (the only one I've thought of which I like being Monday Musings), so I've decided to enlist your help. The feature will be on Mondays, so if you want to do something alliterative, go for it! Down below is a form where you can fill in your suggestions. Since I want your help and ideas, I'll be giving away a book to whoever provides the winning name! The winner will choose the book he or she wants, which I will purchase and mail to him/her. It can be hardcover or paperback, but it must be a title which is already out or will be out by September 4th, which is when the contest will draw to a close (so, if you want to choose or , both of which will be out this week, that is okay). I know one week is short, but I'd like to start getting these posts out there. Here are the rules for this contest:
*Open internationally!
*You MUST provide a potential feature name if you want to win!
*The book you'd like to win MUST have a release date of September 4th, 2010 OR earlier!
*The contest/naming will close at 11:59 p.m. CST on Saturday, September 4th.
Thanks for your help and good luck!

***THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE ENTIRE TWILIGHT SAGA, INCLUDING BREAKING DAWN***

When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life—first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse—seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

I have finally finished reading the infamous Twilight saga and finally have an idea of what all the fuss was about. I can see where the ending of Breaking Dawn satisfies audiences and leaves them feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. I'll admit, I even gave a little contented sigh when I closed the book. However, when I thought of everything I thought the book could have done better, that went away. I enjoyed reading this well enough, but thought it left a good deal to be desired. I'm not by any means saying that I could have done it better, or that I know someone who could have. I think Meyer herself could have done it better, and I'll get into that as this review continues.

So much about Bella and Edward's story seemed unrealistic and to go against several of the themes which Meyer had set up earlier in the saga. For example, Bella and Edward don't get intimate until after they're married, and they're rewarded by having awesome, pleasurable sex. I'm okay with that. I was more irked by the fact that Bella woke up covered in bruises. I understand that Meyer might have done this to show that a.) sex with a vampire is way different than it is with a human and b.) very few people's first time is flawless. I think it bothered me because I'm worried that young, impressionable girls will pick up this book and feel that's what they should have expect out of their sexual experiences. I realize that this fear might be unrealistic, but it still worries me. I'd like to add that I realize that it is not Meyer's or any author's job to depict an entirely positive relationship. I'm sure some authors probably do otherwise to teach a lesson, or for some reason that is entirely unbeknownst to me. I think that as I read any genre in literature but particularly YA, I need to get over the fact that not every story should will send out an obviously positive message and that even if I don't get it, there could be a good reason for this. I also didn't like that Bella and Edward had to marry to come into happiness, because I don't necessarily believe that to be the case in real life, but I'm pretty sure Meyer is Mormon so I won't go on and on about it but instead accept that it probably factored into her choice of ending.

With this being said, I was happy to see Bella and Edward's relationship evolve. It was great to see her get so much more self-esteem upon becoming a vampire. I noticed at one point that Bella referred to her before and after selves as "hideous human" and "glorious immortal" However, I did think it sad that she could only achieve this as an immortal, and that it could have happened say after they got married and Bella realized how much Edward loved her. Again, this is a matter of personal preference, and while I would have liked to see this happen, I know it's not Meyer's duty to represent everything positively. For more on this subject, please see the rant about myself as a reader at the end of the above paragraph. Another thing I'd like to add about their relationship is that it didn't feel like Bella and Edward had to put in much effort to have this perfectly magical relationship. In the real world, there's usually some kind of sacrifice or compromise, or it's just not as easy as this. As the song "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 says, "It's not always rainbows and butterflies / It's compromise that moves us along." I realize that I'm kind of a dork for liking such a cheesy song, but I do and I ask you to forgive me. Hopefully someone else agrees with me that there is some truth in those lines. While Edward and Bella may be special because they are immortal, it's their human qualities, such as Edward's chivalry or Bella's insecurities and normality which have drawn readers in it. Why not make the effort to make things work feel more human?

As for Jacob, I spent the first half of this book being really annoyed at him. I grew to really dislike him in Eclipse, so I came into this novel biased. I thought Meyer did a lousy job with the chapter titles for his section, and got annoyed at him for being so emo at times. I felt that in the earlier part of the book he overstepped his boundaries many, many times. This isn't really fair of me, because I've never really gone through a heartbreak as intense of Jacob's or his exact situation. One day when I've felt more intense heartbreak and am a bit more mature than I am today, I think I'll address Jacob's story with a bit more empathy. I was glad to see him calm down by the end of the book and develop an interest in caring for Renesmee. On the note of the birth scene, all I will say is that I found the violence unnecessary. Anyways, I didn't actually mind him and Renesmee being together (or the prospect of it). For some reason I felt that with her he was still protective, but not as crazy and pushy as he sometimes was with Bella. I was impressed by the sacrifices he made, so by the time I put the book down I was much happier with him. I just left that storyline saying, "Meh, if you say so." Yeah, it felt unrealistic and infeasible, but I've kind of grown to expect that from this series. By that point I had spent so much of this book going "WHAT?!?!?!" that I just kind of thought, "You know what? Oh, never mind, forget it, I'm too angry about ____" (insert one of my other gripes there).

And speaking of unrealistic, the ending. Oh, the ending. That just was so anti-climactic to me. It felt like a cop-out thataws meant to give readers what they want. I would have liked to see more time devoted to something like a real fight scene, and cut down on some less action-packed part of the book because, to be honest, the story did drag in a few places.

Since I've spent so much time talking about what I didn't like, I'll devote a few minutes to something which I thought Meyer did particularly well, specifically some of the scenes after Bella's transformation. I think Meyer did a great job with writing the scenes where we see the world through her vampire eyes. If there had been great descriptive writing like that throughout the series, I would have enjoyed it more.

On the whole, I'm glad I read this series. It's made me think a lot about what sells, and about all the different kinds of messages books can send out to young adults. It's also made me seriously consider my own faults as reader. I enjoyed it as over-the-top romantic literature and as someone who enjoys happy endings, but I definitely think it could have been done differently and better. Again, I in no way claim think that I could have done it better and believe that Meyer showed in some places that she could have. At any rate, I will definitely pick up The Host at some point, and check out any future novels Meyer will publish (including those affiliated with this series), because I'm curious to see where she will go and how her writing will evolve throughout her career.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not ***THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY AND REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR AND ***

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

If I had to give an award, I would call it The Delivery Award, because that is precisely what this book does. While I’m no expert on the subject, I’m ninety percent certain that Mockingjay is one of the most anticipated young adult novels of 2010. Friends, I have not been disappointed. Collins is a gifted writer, and while this trilogy has come to a close, I don’t think it will go forgotten and unread anytime soon.

I remember reading Catching Fire and being amazed by how carefully it was plotted out, and how Collins seemed to weave every detail together. In this respect, Mockingjay blew me out of the water. Rest assured that it is not an easy book to read. I left feeling that Collins had not only done an excellent job of researching the topics she writes about, but did a fantastic job of applying them to her characters and the nation they live in. There were several points where I felt goosebumps or froze in my set as the action on the page unfolded before me and as I turned the final pages, Collins had tears formulating in my eyes. While there is a lot of action, this is also a very psychological, intense and honest story. This aspect reminded me of nothing I’d read before, and I applaud Collins for dealing with it so frankly.

I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to teams, I’m not a particularly reliable person to have around, because I am incredibly indecisive. Collins had me waffling throughout the entire novel, not entirely sure which side to be on. I was constantly asking myself that the same questions as the characters, which I loved doing. Yet by the end, she had me convinced that the outcome was perfect and what I wanted for the characters, not to mention back on my original team.

Collins kept me glued to the story while still providing the closure I sought as a reader. Reading this novel has been an emotional roller coaster, and the characters feel as alive as ever to me. I know, having already heard that some people have been let down, that not every reader will agree with Collins’s choices as much as I did. Mockingjay is a book that will leave me thinking for a considerable amount of time to come, and I look forward to seeing the discussions it brings about.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

Phoebe finds herself drawn to Mallory, the strange and secretive new kid in school, and the two girls become as close as sisters . . . until Mallory's magnetic older brother, Ryland, shows up during their junior year. Ryland has an immediate, exciting hold on Phoebe, but a dangerous hold, for she begins to question her feelings about her best friend and, worse, about herself. Soon she'll discover the shocking truth about Ryland and Mallory: that these two are visitors from the faerie realm who have come to collect on an age-old debt. Generations ago, the faerie queen promised Pheobe's ancestor five extraordinary sons in exchange for the sacrifice of one ordinary female heir. But in hundreds of years there hasn't been a single ordinary girl in the family, and now the faeries are dying. Could Phoebe be the first ordinary one? Could she save the faeries, or is she special enough to save herself?

When I saw this cover my first thought, was "Oooo, pretty and whimsical!" This is another cover that I love. However, given the plot summary, this story doesn't sound particularly whimsical. It actually sounds like a read that will keep me on the edge of my seat. I had been planning on doing a Waiting on Wednesday post for a while, and then I found out that I won a copy from another blogger. Clearly, this post is a matter of fate. Or, you know, not. At any rate, I look forward to digging into this story.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill of .

Bella must choose between her friendship with Jacob, a werewolf, and her relationship with Edward, a vampire, but when Seattle is ravaged by a mysteri Bella must choose between her friendship with Jacob, a werewolf, and her relationship with Edward, a vampire, but when Seattle is ravaged by a mysterious string of killings, the three of them need to decide whether their personal lives are more important than the well-being of an entire city.

When I obtained my copy of , the back cover made me feel that for me, it would read differently than and . It made me suspect that it would read more quickly, but I didn't realize how engrossed I would become or how much I would care about what happened to the characters and the book ending how I wanted. In case you're wondering, it did end how I wanted, but I still have my complaints for Stephenie Meyer. I still don't love the characters, think this book represents relationships teenage girls should pursue, or think that the writing is the most amazing I've ever read. However, considering how annoyed I got reading the first book, I'm impressed.

Meyer definitely structured the plot different than she did in Twilight and New Moon, where to me it felt like most of the action happened in the last 100 pages (those were both about 400-500ish pages and this is 629, for the record). To me, the action picked up around page 300. In the earlier books, I felt like a large chunk of the first few hundred pages were focused primarily on Bella's emotions. Obviously that's still a huge focus in Eclipse, but I felt that elements of suspense were more woven throughout. I really liked that, and it's probably part of the reason why I read 300 pages of this book in a day. The rest of my review is riddled with rants and spoliers, so I leave you with this final thought: even though I pretty much knew what was going to happen because spoilers are so impossible to avoid, I was eager to see how it played out and develop my own opinions on the conclusion to Meyer's saga.


As for the actual plot, I liked it. I loved getting more background about the Quileute legends and the individual members of the Cullen family. I thought it made sense that Rosalie and Jasper share their background this late in the series, because if it had been any earlier, I think I would have been saying to myself, "She's not in their species and poses a huge risk of exposing them, yet they're spouting this all off this early?" I also have that I have joined Team Edward and grew to really like the Cullen family in this book, especially Alice. She might be my favorite character in the whole series. (I'll get into my decision to join Team Edward later.) As for the fighting with the newborn vampires arose toward the end, at first I thought Meyer was going to cop out and not give the reader any fighting, and I'm really glad that wasn't the case, because it wouldn't have felt realistic to me. I also have to say that the epilogue felt like it may have been added partially for the sake of appeasing members of Team Jacob, which is understandable.

On the note of Jacob, I would like to say that as the book progressed, he drove me more and more crazy. Seriously, I wanted to smack him. No means no, so stop kissing her already! I definitely felt him becoming more and more controlling which I did not like, not to mention emotionally manipulative. I'm not going to deem Edward and Bella's relationship perfect, but that which she had with Jacob in this book is not healthy. I think Meyer tried to get that point across in some ways. Meanwhile, I really liked how Edward started to become less patronizing towards Bella and treated her more like an equal. It's about time, buddy! Call me a sap, but I thought it was both sweet and necessary. I think it makes sense that Bella admitted to being in love with Jacob and Edward, and it didn't surprise me that she chose Edward. I think for me the lack of surprise came from the fact that Jacob didn't really respect Bella and Edward's relationship. I just thought he was a jerk.

At this rate, I'm pretty excited to get my hands on . Meyer's sex-is-for-marriage-not-before message is definitely clear in Eclipse. I definitely read the line about Bella specifically wanting Edward's venom in her body on two levels. My mind may be in the gutter regarding this point, but I highly doubt I'm alone in that respect. However, I feel like Meyer is putting herself in an awkward position with the reasoning the characters use for waiting. Edward's worry about physically breaking Bella, which is a fair point, but this just in: most of Meyer's readers probably aren't sleeping with actual vampires, at least not as far as I know. So I think that the particular line was not the best method of getting that across. Bella talked about wanting to do her transition into immortality right, including the wedding etc., but I'm not sure how effective that is either, because right is different for everyone.

I'll be excited to see how the transformation and everything actually plays out. I've heard spoilery things about Breaking Dawn, and I'm pretty sure I'll have a lot to say about it and the messages Meyer is conveying to teenage girls once I read it. Now I just have to get my hands on a copy.

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at .

Adopted:
Here's Macey! She has made herself right at home. She's kind of a couch potato and loves to be the center of attention.

Won:
I few weeks ago, I found out I won a $60 gift card to CSN stores from Emma of Booking Through 365. After squeeing and jumping up and down, I promptly started shopping. This is the bookshelf I picked out. I live in a two house situation, and this one is at the house where I spend weekends and holidays (thus explaining why this bookshelf was not mentioned in the vlog). I've been wanting to keep a stash of books over there, and this allows me to do so. I'll obviously stash many more books on it, I just grabbed a few on my way out the door that I may not get to for a while. Eventually, I may post a review of this shelf, as well as provide you all with a full tour of my bookshelves.
From the library:
by Carrie Jones (Check out here.)
Bought:
Lots of swag!
by The Harvard Lampoon
by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
by James Dashner
Gifted or sent by book fairies:
by Kate Atkinson
by Sophie Jordan
by Marsha Warner
by Lisa M. Klein
by Jonathan Friesen
by Yvonne Prinz
by Shana Norris
by Lucy Silag
by Mary E. Pearson
by Dandi Daley Mackall
by Kathryn Lasky
by Peter Bognanni
by Susan Hubbard
by Eireann Corrigan
by Richard Peck
by Sharon Dogar
by Robert Paul Weston
by Angela Morrison
Blogs and Bloggers mentioned:
Nicole of
Jessica of

Read:
by Stephenie Meyer
by David Levithan
Currently reading:
by Bree Despain by Neil Pasricha
I plan to read:
by Suzanne Collins
by Julie Kagawa
by Chelsea Campbell
by Laurie Halse Anderson
by Heidi R. Kling
by Emily Bronte
by Maggie Stiefvater
by John Green
by C.A. Moulton
by Simone Elkeles

Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won't be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistibl Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won't be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The "star-crossed" lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

During the last one hundred pages, I had a hard time putting this one down. I enjoyed this better than the first, which surprised me, and I definitely want to continue on with the series.

I felt that Meyer put more plot into this book, although I know some will disagree with me. The first 300 pages of Twilight were, "I love you Edward!" "You shouldn't, I'm dangerous." In this book, however, I thought Meyer actually created a bit of a mystery by allowing the reader to try and figure out what was up with Jacob. That kept me reading. I thought that even though up until the last part of the book, it wasn't chalk full of plot, I think it became more obvious that Meyer is using the first two books to develop information and characters that will be crucial later on the series. I found Bella a lot more bearable by the end of the book. In the first 50 pages, I was worried that this was going to be exactly like Twilight, and it is true that for a while, Bella was pretty mopey and emo.


I have to say that I knew that Bella and Edward would get back together in the end, because spoilers are very hard to avoid with this series. However, even if I hadn't known, I still would have believed that they would. There are two more books in the series, how could they not end up together?!?!?!? However, I really liked how she took some agency in the end and didn't let Edward have total control. I even liked Edward more by the end, because his emotions felt far more realistic to me. He seemed more vulnerable, and I believe to a certain extent, that comes with the territory of being in love. He did still seem controlling, which I found irritating. Their relationship still seems unhealthy, and I still think Bella is a poor role model for super young, impressionable kids, so although I thought some of the dynamics worked better in this book, I'm saving a full on commentary for once I finish the entire series.


I do have to say that the whole Jacob thing made me sad. Also, I was glad that Meyer presented Jacob as a romantic prospect, because I think if that had never crossed her mind considering how much time they spent together, it would have been seriously unrealistic. However, I became frustrated with him by the end of the book.

New Moon is an excellent novel for character development. It contains an appropriate mix of background information and action. I was eager to get my hands on Eclipse after finishing this one!

A collection of poems, stories, and essays written by girls twelve to eighteen years of age and revealing the secrets which enabled them to overcome t A collection of poems, stories, and essays written by girls twelve to eighteen years of age and revealing the secrets which enabled them to overcome the challenges they faced.

I picked this book up from the library one day, back when I was in high school, on a whim. I wound up being really surprised by how much I loved it. I can see where some adults might pass writing by high school women off as fluffy and unintelligent, yet this is absolutely not the case.

This book is wonderfully put together. One of my favorite aspects of it is actually the photography, because it’s of real girls. This is fitting because these are poems about topics which many teenager struggles with at some point, such as body image, drugs and sexuality. Two of my personal favorite poems are “Hallway Between Lunch and English (French Can Kiss My Sexually Ambiguous Arse,” “Damn, I Look Good” and “The Consequence of Loving Me.”

I find it hard to review this book, but it’s definitely worth a read. I feel like I’ve met many of the girls who wrote these pieces, because I’ve contemplated many of the challenging issues here. This is a somewhat hard book to track down in stores, but if you can find it, I highly recommend that get yourself a copy.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

As you all can see, I've at long last decided to post my reviews of the . I've been debating doing so for a while. I started reading today, which I intend to review within the coming weeks, so I figured I may as well share my reviews of the other books. I read Twilight last summer, so this is the review I wrote one year ago, with a few minor tweaks. I hope you enjoy hearing what I thought of this popular series!

Bella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

After all of the hype about this book, I wanted to read it to find out what exactly everyone was so enthusiastic about. It's not meant to be a great work of literature, and I would like to note that in this review, I'm not trying to compare Twilight to the classics or any other book. As I read this book, I enjoyed the story enough, but didn't particularly enjoy the writing or the narration. However, I'm really curious to find out what will happen, and I've also heard that New Moon is better, so I do intend to continue reading the series.

Temptation and the idea of being different are both very important concept in this novel, and Meyer talks a lot about these in the context of the high school in Forks. I have to say that at times, I felt like Meyer shared every minute detail of the high school drama (who likes who, etc.), and grew a bit tired of that at times. I also didn't really like the fact that the story didn't really pick up until the last 100 pages. However, I did really like how she wrote about ideas of how vampires were formed and the American Indian legends surrounding vampires.

Another thing that bothered me about the plot is that Bella kept saying how in love she was with Edward. However, she only seemed to talk about how gorgeous and perfect he was. My personal opinion is that one tends to fall in love with someone based on more than looks and with the knowledge that the other person isn't perfect. There were also moments where Edward was kind of controlling of Bella and he wouldn't explain why at first, and at the time I had kind of a hard time relating to this because as I read, I was thinking, "Uh, at this point, I would be really wary and not overly trusting of this guy!" I'll be interested to see how Edward and Bella's relationship and views of each other transform throughout the rest of the series.

I also thought that Bella was kind of a whiny and over the top narrator. There was a lot of angst, and although everyone goes through that phase (I know I did), it did start to get old after a couple hundred pages. I also felt that sometimes the way Bella expressed herself was a little melodramatic. When I think about it more, I feel that because I disliked Bella and her voice as a narrator, I thought to myself, "I might enjoy Meyer's writing style more if it was told through a different character/narration."

On one last side note, in the end of this edition there are some discussion questions, one of them revolves around the fact that this is supposedly based off of . Although I can see that they are both romantic comedies, I felt that in each work the characters wound up where they were at the end for very different reasons.

I hate to say it, but I am a little addicted, being drawn into the storyline :) I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the next book!

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

From other awesome bloggers:
by Courtney Allison Moulton
by Kirsten Miller
Bought:
by Ellen Hopkins
by Laurie Halse Anderson
by Sharon Creech
by Jeffrey Eugenides
by Jenny Han
by Stefne Miller
by Leah Cypess
by Kimberly Derting by Edgar Allan Poe
Blogs and Bloggers:
Allison of
Alea of

Read:
by Stefne Miller () (Here's , where you can buy your own autographed book.)
by Sarah Beth Durst ()
Currently reading:
by Stephenie Meyer
I plan to read:
by Julie Kagawa
by Chelsea Campbell
by Laurie Halse Anderson
by Emily Bronte
by Bree Despain
by Heidi R. Kling
by David Levithan
by Maggie Stiefvater

When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe.
Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back — if Cassie will agree to be his bride.
That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her — until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice.

Reading about the Arctic in the midst of a Minnesota heatwave proved to be a decent idea. The description of ice and snow helped distract me from the humidity and the blistering heat. In spite of this relief, proved to be only an okay read for me.

The strongest element of Ice is easily the premise. While it’s based off of the East of the Sun West of the Moon fairy tale, I find that this particularly story is not often adapted or retold. Even when it does pan out perfectly, I love when authors add something fresh and new to their genre. My main problem with the plot of Ice was actually the ending. I liked the idea of it, but it felt a little bit too convenient and rushed to be genuine to me. I would happily pick up a sequel to Ice if one was published.

In some ways, Cassie is an admirable main character. She’s assertive and loyal to her family and loved ones, although I was occasionally frustrated by how stubborn she was. However, I think her character arc moved a bit too quickly to feel realistic at times. I have to wonder if I would have enjoyed it more had the story been told from Cassie’s point of view.

Overall, Ice is an enjoyable and swift read, but it lacked the depth I was hoping to see. I was glad to see something different, and think the novel was really well written, so I’ll definitely read ore by Durst in the future. I know others will disagree with my opinions, so if Ice intrigues or if you live someplace really warm, you should definitely check it out.

Disclosure: I checked out a copy of this book from my awesome local library.

Fragment Friday is hosted by James of .

I hope you guys have enjoyed my first Fragment Friday! As you all may have noticed, up until this point I've been posting Adaptation Corner posts and/or Book Blogger Hop posts on Fridays. Starting this week I will no longer be participating in the Book Blogger Hop, but instead dedicate Fridays primarily to Fragment Friday or an Adaptation Corner post. I think this will lead to more substantial content on my blog. You also may have noticed that yesterday I posted my first audiobook review yesterday, and I wanted to ask if you all enjoyed reading it and whether or not you'd like to see more reviews specifically of audiobooks. I enjoyed writing this one, so if you all still want to read them I'll keep posting them. Feel free to let me know what you think either in the comments or via e-mail. Have a great weekend!

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

As many of you know, I read and loved by Suzanne Collins earlier this spring, so when I was shelving audiobooks at my local library and saw it along with I had to check both of them out. I only listen to audiobooks I’ve already read and enjoyed, because I find that if I try to listen to books that are new to me, I just space out instead of paying attention. I consider listening to a book (if it’s unabridged) to be a form of re-reading. Oftentimes when I re-read books I remember the largest and most significant plot points, as well as some characters, but as a detail-oriented person I hope to remember the little things and how scenes play out exactly. I think audiobooks are a great accompaniment to household chores such as cleaning one’s room or unloading the dishwasher. I’m sure if I had to commute daily I would also love to listen to them then as well.

The reader of this is Carolyn McCormick, who I think did a good job overall. I must say that the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling and read by Jim Dale are my all time favorite books to listen to, but I’ve enjoyed testing out The Hunger Games as well. When I first started this one, I wasn’t fanatical about how McCormick did Katniss’s emotional passages. However, this feeling quickly passed, and soon enough I was swept away in this fast-paced tale. It didn’t stand out as one of the best readings of an audiobook I’ve ever heard, but it still kept me wanting to keep listening.

Listening to The Hunger Games has been a fabulous way to prepare for ’s imminent release. I was glad to refresh on the details of the novel and speculate as to what might happen. I can’t wait to check out more books on CD from library and delve further into this fabulous medium.

'My body was being torn apart, and my stomach felt as if it exploded. The pain was excruciating, and I was aware that I was dying... 'Mom?' My vision 'My body was being torn apart, and my stomach felt as if it exploded. The pain was excruciating, and I was aware that I was dying... 'Mom?' My vision was murky, but I could see her face. It was bloody, and her eyes were large and full of fear. Her voice calmed. 'Get out of the car, Attie.' Her words sounded crisp and clear. I looked into the backseat in search of Melody and found her lying covered in blood in a twisted heap on the floor. I turned my attention back to my mother and out of the corner of my eye saw fire. 'Get out, Attie!' 'Mom?' Everything went dark.' Attie Reed should have died in the wreck that stole the lives of her mother and best friend. But her life was spared. Why? When Attie moves to Oklahoma to stay with the Bennetts for the summer, she hopes she has left her nightmares behind. But her battle is far from over, and Riley Bennett steps forward to help her fight the nighttime monsters. As the battle wears on, Riley begins fighting monsters of his own: his feelings for Attie. And Attie realizes she must begin to face the monsters of the night herself if she wants to conquer them for good. Can Attie's life be Salvaged?

is a touching tale of love and loss in a Christian context. I must confess to being dubious upon hearing that this book is Christian fiction, as it’s a genre that I really haven’t read up until now, but I was pleasantly surprised. It carefully balances emotion and humor to provide an engrossing story.

This story is narrated from the alternating perspectives of Riley and Attie. After reading , I enjoy seeing both a male and female narrator, but I almost felt that I got more out of their relationship from the dialogue. I will say that all texts were written in text speak (not directly out of the book, but i.e. “c u ltr”) and as this is a pet peeve of mine in real text messages, I grew tired of it quickly. Thank you, characters, for not texting each other more often.

The characters in Salvaged are, for the most part, very lovable, in my opinion. I was particularly fond of Gramps and Pops, both of whom had me laughing out loud throughout the story. Riley wasn’t necessary my favorite love interest ever, but I loved his loyalty to Attie. I confess that I didn’t particularly care for Joshua, but this is also because I felt that as a character, he didn’t explain why he chose certain therapy methods and whatnot.

The religious aspect of this book is something I was concerned about, because having not read Christian fiction prior to this experience, I wasn’t sure if I should be expecting religion to overwhelm the entire book or what. Ultimately, it tied wonderfully into the plot without overwhelming with it. I think how any given reader feels about Attie’s beliefs will, to an extent, depend on his or own religious beliefs and versions of right and wrong. It wasn’t the aspect of the novel which I felt the most connected with, but I could see where other people would feel differently. Also, I think that because some parts felt like preaching or as though they were trying to convey a particular message of Christianity, it’s hard to really comment on the writing, but I certainly felt that it was well done.

I was pleasantly surprised by Salvaged. Even if one doesn’t agree with the religious aspects of this novel, I think Stefne Miller is undeniably a gifted storyteller. I have a feeling that Attie and Riley’s story will stick with me, and I hope Miller publishes more novels in the future.

If you'd like to purchase Salvaged, go to where you can buy your very own, autographed copy.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through .

When alien invaders from Mars mercilessly attack London, the British throne quickly calls upon the League to protect the empire. When one of the members dies a horrific death, the members must call upon Dr. Moreau as their last desperate hope.

I enjoyed this book a good deal, but I think enjoyed the first a bit more, although for different reasons. What I really liked about this book was the development of the characters and their relationships. The reader definitely gained a lot more insight as to what they really thought of each other. However, I have to say that I thought the story was not the most well constructed.

The story seemed to end very suddenly and I wish it had been a bit more developed.

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***
It was never really explained what the creatures invading London were, and I would have liked a bit more explanation on that. It seemed to me that it was, "Yeah, they're all going to get the common cold and die" and it ended. That's it???
***END POSSIBLE SPOILERS***

The illustrations in this story are still enjoyable to look at and analyze. Yet because this novel focuses on developing characters and their relationships, some could make certain readers uncomfortable. This book is definitely targeted at a more mature audience than its predecessor.

I'm really glad I read these books. I've always wanted to read a graphic novel, so I finally have. and , also by Alan Moore, have also been highly recommended to me, so I will have to check those out as well.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi at .

For review:
by Andrea Cremer
by Stefne Miller
Contest Wins:
by David Patneaude
by Jeri Smith-Ready
by Lauren Kate
by Alyxandra Harvey
Random swag
by Jim Bernheimer
by Alison Hart
by Alison Hart
by Carl Hiaasen
by John Green and David Levithan
Jane swag!
From the library:
by Hans Christian Andersen
Bought:
by Maureen Johnson
by David Levithan
by E. Lockhart
by Jeff Noon
by Sarah Shepard
by Jenna Black
by Sarah MacLean
by Cassandra Clare
Tour Sites Mentioned:

Bloggers and Blogs Mentioned:
Sarah of
Nicole of

Kristi of

Read:
by Andrea Cremer (Look for my review closer to the release date, which is October 19th.)
Currently Reading:
by Stefne Miller
by Sarah Beth Durst
by Neil Pasricha
I plan to read:
by Julie Kagawa
by Chelsea Campbell
by Laurie Halse Anderson
by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
by Emily Bronte
by Stephenie Myer
by Bree Despain
by Heidi R. Kling
by David Levithan
by Maggie Stiefvater

Top Ten Picks is hosted by Jill of . Jill posted of female favorites quite a while ago, but since I posted about the males a few weeks ago I thought it was time to give the women their own fair chance. My picks are in no particular order, with the exception of the top two, who are particularly dear to my heart.

10.) Tibby from series by Ann Brashares
All of the characters in this series go through a hardship of some sort at some point. It would be unrealistic if they didn't. I think Tibby is one of the first characters to endure this, and even though she's not the best with communication, I love how she ultimately deals with her pain. I think it's both healthy and inspirational.

9.) Astrid Llewelyn from by Diana Peterfreund
If I needed to kick unicorn butt, I'd call Astrid, if she was real. This girl is awesome on the battlefield. However, she's also really realistic because she's human. She thinks carefully about what she wants before flinging herself too passionately into one activity.

8.) Alanna from the by Tamora Pierce
Another totally kick butt character. I don't think I could ever be as brave as Alanna is, but then again, last time I checked, it's not possible to get a master's degree in knighthood.

7.) Katniss from by Suzanne Collins
If I were thrown into the arena, I would probably run slowly, then cry, then get killed by another tribute or die a slow and painful death by dehydration. Thank goodness we don't live in Panem. I love Katniss because she stays strong even in the face of adversity, but I also love that she periodically admits to having a more emotional side.

6.) Mia Thermopolis from by Meg Cabot
Mia will have most teenaged girls laughing out loud and those of us who are supposedly grown up laughing and reminiscent about the awkwardness of high school and puberty. However, this certainly isn't her only endearing quality. Mia's a vegetarian, along with supporting many other causes. I love a character who's passionate and will fight for what she believes in.

5.) Hermione Granger from the by J.K. Rowling
I love a bookish, shy character, and I think that's how Hermione starts off the Harry Potter series. I also crack up at her tendency to correct others and argue with Harry and Ron.

4.) Mattie Gokey from by Jennifer Donnelly
Yet another bookish character. I think some authors tend to make such characters rather oblivious to their surroundings, and I think Mattie is the total opposite. She's actual aware of the world around her, considering her circumstance.

3.) Matilda from by Roald Dahl
Matilda may also be bookish, but she manages to channel other powers. I don't want to ruin the story, but for those of you who've read the story, I will simply say that I attempted to channel such powers.

2.) Elinor Dashwood from by Jane Austen
Elinor is an easy character to feel sympathetic towards. If I had a sister like Marianne, I would be quick to go crazy, yet she often remains composed. I think she handles it all wonderfully.

1.) Elizabeth Bennet from by Jane Austen
I can definitely see why some people might not be so found of Elizabeth Bennet, or rule my choice out as cliched. Or predictable, if you've read my blog. Elizabeth is opinionated, which is wonderful. What I love most about her is the fact that even though she has her opinion, she's willing to question them.


And those, ladies and gentlemen, are just a few of my favorite female characters. However, there are many other women and girls in literature that I admire. Now that I've told you about who I'm fond of, I'd love to hear what females you enjoy reading about.